T.S. INDEFATIGABLE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

1983 – 2004

MINUTES of the 21^st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held at

The Carreg Bran Hotel, Llanfairpwl. Anglesey.

Saturday: 5^TH June 2004: 15:00

	PRESENT Those who logged themselves in attendance at the AGM Mark Chatham 65/66, Gary Gray 65/66, Owen Kitts 55/56, William Smith 36/38, Marc Hardman 1961, Mick Stevens 68/69, Bill Millard 55/56, Tom Keyes 62/64, Pat Kissane 46/47, Derek Darlington 43/45, John Aspinall 59/60, Norman Walker 63/65, Mick Loynes 75/76, Tony Eastham 75/76, Derek Evans 41/42, Mac McNeill 41/42, Charlie Claridge 62/63, John Kavanagh 61/62, Mike Weller 48/49, Roger Astley 45,46, Walter Price Roberts 52/53, Roger Jones 53/56, Wayne Houston 88/92, Victor Petch 84/86, Gareth Bramwell 85/87, Steve Paris 76/78, Spencer Bell 1958 & Steve Humphries 75/76. Special thanks to all invited guests who were also there.	APOLOGIES The following members have all written, passing on their regards Lionel Storrs (OBA President), Julian Stockwin 58/60, Peter Hutchins 40/41, John Prestwich 52/54, Steve Fuller 76/77, Clive Ellis 1963, William Gyte 65/66, Steve Gibbons 1969, Bill O’Leary 74/76, Bob Wright 84/87, James Taylor 1946, Richard Humphreys 77/78, Pat McNelis 57/58, Frank Lawlor 65/66, Ian Woodcock 76/77, Ian Patterson 60/65,Mark Leah 70/72, Paul Taylor 57/59, Martin Bell 1962, Mike Rutherford 60/61, Pat Purser (Staff) 77/91 & Elfed Jones 57/58. Hope to see some of you next year.
1	OPEN at 14:50hrs		SB
2	OBITUARIES RECEIVED Our thoughts and memories are with the following Indefatigable Old Boys who recently passed away. Francis G Coppage 1917 - 1919 (Died 16/08/03). Charlie Laird 1937 - 1938 (Died 24/09/03). Bob Dolling 1944 – 1946 (Died O9/2003). Don Griffin 1948 - 1949 (Died 07/12/03) Ron Wilkinson 1944 - 1949 (Died 18/01/04).		SB
3	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST AGM 2003 Pass 2003 Minutes posted in the Christmas 2003 Newsletter No34. 1^ST Norman Walker 63/65 & 2^nd John Aspinall 59/60 Outstanding issues - There was nothing reported at this point.		SB
4	CHAIRMANS REPORT 2004 Spencer E Bell 1958 Chairman: A lot has happened since the last AGM, and our Membership Secretary Steve Humphries and the Vice Chairman Steve Paris have been very busy implementing the decisions made at the 2003 meeting. It is with sadness that I have to announce the passing of five of our members; my thoughts are with their families and loved ones. We have had new logo's from which there has been very favourable feedback, they will be used on the Newsletter, Letter Headings and Motif's.  Steve Paris has published a newsletter with another to follow not long after this meeting, this newsletter is in a new format and we hope to purchase a paper-folding machine to make his job easier. The 'Rev Canon Bob Evans' is doing very well with the book of the Indefatigable and it is hoped that it will be published at the end of the year, all in time for your Christmas prissy!  Half of the profits from the book will be coming to the OBA and the other half to the 'Missions To Seamen' - Liverpool. The book will be about £13.00 in soft back or about £30.00 in hardback.  The Rev. Bob is here today, and will update you later on. New Membership badges and cuff links have been purchased with the new logo and it is expected that further items such as rugby shirts, tee shirts and polo shirts will be available to members in the near future, all to help with the fund raising. The two Steve's have been to Liverpool on two occasions this year and have spent time at the Picton Library (LRO) and The Mersey Maritime Museum (MMM), which both have Indefatigable memorabilia and documentation. They also visited Pat Moran's Boats in the Albert Dock and all had a good time. Whilst on their Liverpool trip they visited the National Arboretum and found that the bench that all of you donated to, is still in good order, and it is in a very prominent position and under cover out of the weather. The new Inde website is up and running and it is hoped that as many of you will as possible will visit it and make full use of it, that's those of you who have internet access from home or maybe from the library or even your local Supermarket... The website was sponsored by Ian Woodcock 76/77 who works in Russia and lives in Cyprus...   We owe him a great deal for this very generous offer.  The development of the site was by at company called Solus, based on the Isle Of Man and the website designer (Hugh) is now working in the Dominican Republic with us, Steve Humphries is continuing to brief them all.  Just recently the Inde website has just won a Silver Award from the 'Maritime Web Awards' which we are very proud, as it's recognized around the world.  Sometime after this years reunion Steve Humphries intends to attach to the website a MPEG (short movie) of this years reunion for all to see, so those OB's who are unable to attend our Reunion days, can be very part of the whole thing, whatever corner of the globe they maybe. www.ts-indefatigable-oba.org Both our Membership and Contact numbers are slightly down on this time last year, this is due to the fact that some members have forgotten to pay their dues, as well not keeping us updated with their contact details, Steve Humphries is on their case (as Tom Keyes recently found out) sorry Tom, so be warned... .  I hope that what's been done over this last year has renewed awareness with various new items, such as the website, logos, newsletter revamp, and these may start to rebuild on the numbers and rekindle friendship. I feel sure that with all the work the committee are putting in to the OBA, our membership will improve and the website will be the main reason for this.  So put the NEW Site to good use and please send your stories to Steve Paris so that he can give you all another interesting Newsletter. inde.obanews@ntlworld.com That's it, now it's down to you all to make this work. Spencer E Bell 1958: Chairman: indechairman@btinternet.com		SB
5	TREASURERS SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 2003 / 2004 Steve Paris 76/78 VICE CHAIRMAN & NEWSLETTER EDITOR (reporting in the absence of Mike Saunders 80/82): Mike Saunders our Treasurer has decided to not continue with his post, he informed the committee that he will submit the 2003-2004 accounts but we have not had them to date. We have put together a short summary and a full account will be in the Christmas 2004 Newsletter. On the 31^st March 2004 we had a £5728.82 balance. 2003/2004 outgoings expenditure; New Logo Cost £ 528.00 (approved 2003 AGM). Cufflinks & the new Membership Badges £ 330.00 (these will be sold in our shop). Steve Humphries Internet line £ 195.00 per year (last AGM approved). ISP web hosting for new website £ 205.00 per Year. Newsletter and postage £350.00. OBA Sec EXP 2003/2004 £170.00 (This includes x2 trips to Liverpool by Steve Paris & Steve Humphries. All other costs to Liverpool were self-funding). Total EXP 2003/2004: £1778.00 I am sorry again we can’t at this time give you the accounts. Steve Humphries and I have spent a lot of time bringing the OBA in to the 21^st century. The Website alone for us to develop will have cost over 8K to get online. We have not paid one penny. The newsletter will get better and will have colour pictures. This will in turn increase the costs to produce… The New LOGO is going to be put on new items of clothing rugby shirts, polo shirts, and fleece jackets. All this will cost money. We have been looking into our Members payments to the OBA and have some very interesting facts; 12 Members that pay £5.00 per year. 11 Members that pay £6.00 per year 96 Members that pay £10.00 per year 42 Five year members 03 Ten year members 63 Life members (no funds are due from these members) payments have been made by some of these members some 15-20 years ago. 27 Honorary members (again no funds due from these members) In all we have (to date) 254 members. This changes weekly, up and down. 90 of these members NO more funds will ever be due. Balance only 164 Paying members out of 254! 42 of these no funds due for the next 4-5 years 3 none for 8-10 years Balance of 119 paying members over the next 4-5 years Today’s membership costs £1098.00 per year. Cost for the Web hosting £205 per year. Internet access for the above £195.00 per Year. Newsletter £330.00 -350.00 per year £750.00 per year With other costs Stationary postage donations for flowers etc this will go to £1000.00 per year. All this without the cost of the REUNION that is part subsidised by the OBA. We would like to propose to the floor the following; Any member who is aged over 65yrs, their Subs will STAY the same £10.00 per year. Any member who is aged over 65yrs, five-year membership to be £45.00. PLEASE NOTE members under 65 Disabled or in some other way unable to work or pay the new rate THE COMMITTEE will grant the same as over 65 rates. Any over 65 can pay the under 65 dues if they would like to. To the rest of us (under 65’s); 1 year to go from £10.00 - £15.00 5 year to go from £40.00 - £65.00 10 year and Life membership to be removed. I have seen other membership fees for other associations and they are lower than ours but they have hundreds or even thousands of members. Our problem is we have very few members and to get more members we need to use whatever media is available to us to contact them, and this costs money. When the OBA first started it was great having all these life members and honorary members but now we have to improve on all the hard work they have done in getting this OBA UP and running, we have to continue their work and move forward, the only way to do this is to increase the dues. Please consider this proposal which if acceptable will be voted on, in AOB. I also would like to remind you those Subscriptions / Bankers Orders should all start on 1^st January of each year. There are still Members Banker Orders that require amending from £5 or £6 to £15 (Note: See AOB increase). And finally, we recently received £328.43 returned back from ‘Guy Williams Layton Solicitors’, Liverpool. This was for the ‘Indefatigable Trust’ investigations 2000. Steve Paris 76/78: Vice Chairman & Newsletter Editor: inde.obanews@ntlworld.com MEMBERS FROM THE FLOOR WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT IN NOT HAVING A FULL REPORT OF THE 2003 – 2004 ACCOUNTS.		SP
6	MEMBERSHIP / SECRETARY Steve Humphries 75/76, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY & WEBSITE COORDINATOR Membership Stats: June 2003 Members 261 (Contacts 470) June 2004 Members 254 (Contacts 452). Over the past year I’ve been pretty preoccupied with the New Website, Logos and recently the temporary removal of the Indefatigable Records for Bob Evans assistance for the new ‘Inde Book’. It may be that I have taken my eye off the ball a little and I’m afraid membership numbers are down this year. As Spencer points out; this is partly due to the fact that some members have forgotten to pay their subs. I would like to add, as much as I try to remind you that your subs are up for renewal, keeping your membership up to date is really your responsibility. We all have some input into this association in some way or another, so little input can go a long way… Website: Annual ISP costs £200 + admin costs to follow for future site upgrades. You can search the site at Google just type ‘Indefatigable Reunited’. The site has recently won a Silver Maritime Web Award, but could do better! And last but not least, our thanks go to Ian Woodcock 76/77 and Solus for making this a reality. Reminder that JSMTC Visiting Forms are available from me, for weekday visits to JSMTC Indefatigable, if you would like to visit other than on Reunion Day. Update on T.S. INDEFATIGABLE BOOK; The book is in its final stages of being written by the Rev. Canon Bob Evans who quotes, "This is one hell of a story". It is believed to be entitled ‘THE TRAININGSHIP INDEFATIGABLE’ (Bob Evans is yet to finally decide the name). The book is estimated to be around 300 plus pages, with pictures, and will have a title similar to 'The Inde'. This book, although Indefatigable has been previously included in a book entitled 'The Training Ships of Liverpool' (also by Rev.C. Bob Evans), will be a much fuller account of the Ships / School and us the trainees.  This is your story, there has never been a book exclusively on the Indefatigable and there never will be again. The Bibby family were recently approached with a view to having the book dedicated to the late Sir Derek Bibby but have declined which the Old Boys Association fully respects.  The book will now be dedicated to all Indefatigable Boys and Staff of T.S. Indefatigable. The minimum print run is 1,000 books in soft back.  Each soft back will retail at approx. £13.  Hard back versions will be available but ONLY if we have a guaranteed order in advance of 50 minimum and payment to support same which is estimated at around £30 each, although the more ordered (i.e. over the min. of 50) the cheaper the hard back. An appropriate launch of the book would be next March/April 2005 in Liverpool possibly at the Adelphi and this is being organised by the Mission to Seamen.  2005 is the Year of the Sea in Liverpool and to this end I would like to invite as many Indefatigable Boys / Staff as possible to this occasion and I'll keep you informed with regard to dates. The current arrangement for funding this project is that the Mission to Seamen Liverpool and the Association has agreed to split the costs equally.  It is estimated these costs will be around £4,000 and 50% of profit will go to the Old Boys Association. We are looking for DONATIONS to be made towards publishing the book.  All individuals donating will have the opportunity to have their names printed in the book, or you may wish to remain anonymous.  This is a unique occasion for you to support this memorable event and if you are interested in contributing please forward any donations to me – made payable to ‘Indefatigable OBA’. Remember it is still not too late for you to have any stories or pictures considered for inclusion in the book but you'll have to get a move on! Finally, I would like to thank all of you, who so far have contributed to the book, your stories and pictures are fantastic. This new project has made me very aware of our long and very proud history. Steve Humphries 75/76: Website Coordinator& Secretary: indefatigable.obamembershipsec@btopenworld.com		SH
7	ELECTION OF FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEMBERS POSTS FOR RENEWAL: a) Treasurer’s Post for renewal. b) Historian & Archivist roles redefine to Archives Curator based from Liverpool and has email access. c) Steve Humphries 75/76 Membership Secretary redefine to Website Coordinator & Secretary. THE ELECTIONS THEN TOOK PLACE. a) Tom Keyes 62/64 became the Treasurer. 1^st Norman Walker 63/65 & 2^nd Pat Kissane 46/47. b) Marc Hardman 1961 along with sharing the post with Pat Moran (H) redefines to Archives Curator. 1^st Owen Kitts 55/56 & 2^nd Mark Chatham 65/66. c) Steve Humphries 75/76 Membership Secretary redefine to Website Coordinator & Secretary. Passed by all members present.		SB
8	ANY OTHER BUSINESS Recommend: S.P. & S.H. Future of Indefatigable Records & Archives, under ‘One Roof’ at the MMM rather the LRO. (See below) PASSED UNANIMMOUSLY BY THE FLOOR. Recommend: S.P. Marketing NEW LOGO for future promotional items. Such as NEW BADGES & CUFFLINKS. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE FLOOR. Recommend: S.P. Subscriptions to increase; Full & Associate Members. PASSED: 1^st Walter Price Roberts 52/53, 2^nd Derek Darlington 43/45. a) Annual Subs, from £10.00 to £15.00. OAP over 65 will stay at £10.00 per year or £15.00 per year can be paid if the member wishes. b) Five Years from £40 to £65.00 OAP over 65 Five Year Membership £45.00 but also can pay the full £65.00 if they wish. c) Ten Year & Life Membership to be dropped. Recommend: S.H. NEW FAMILY CONCEPT; Siblings of OLD BOY’s to become ‘Associate Members’ of the Indefatigable OBA, with FULL voting rights. Note: ‘Associate Members’ Exception that they are unable to hold a Post on the Committee. To be reviewed in TEN YEARS. PASSED: Norman Walker 63/65 & 2^nd Walter Price Roberts 52/53 Recommend: S.H. This year the OBA will donate to The National Forest Arboretum Lichfield £100.00. The OBA to forward £100.00 each year, to various chosen charities. To be reviewed at every AGM. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE FLOOR Recommend: S.P. Yearly visits to Liverpool by Committee Members. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE FLOOR. Request: S.B. Please info the Chairman if you require Remembrance or Memorial Wreaths. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE FLOOR. Request: The Old School Song to be written, Pat Kissane 46/47 will do his best to do this. Thanks Pat. FUTURE OF THE INDEFATIGABLE RECORDS & ARCHIVES; RECENTLY, SO TO ASSIST BOB EVANS AND HIS BOOK (THE INDE), RECORDS AND VARIOUS ARCHIVES WERE REMOVED TEMPORARILY FROM THE LIVERPOOL RECORDS OFFICE / PICTON LIBRARY (LRO). WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND FOR THE BEST UPKEEP AND PRESERVATION OF THE ARCHIVES, WE (STEVE H & STEVE P) LOOKED AT BOTH THE LRO AND THE MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM (MMM). THIS WAS PENDING WHAT UNDERTAKING WOULD HAPPEN TO THE COLLECTION TO PRESERVE IT IN THE LONG TERM. THE LRO HAS HAD THE RECORDS SINCE THE SCHOOLS CLOSURE. THE MMM HAS HAD VARIOUS ARCHIVES ALSO FOR THE SAME TIME, SUCH AS THE FIGUREHEAD AND A SMALL DISPLAY CABINET WITH PAST ITEMS OF THE ‘INDE’ IN IT (ON DISPLAY FOR US). ON VISITING BOTH LOCATIONS AND ASKING WHAT THEY BOTH CAN OFFER US, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE RE-UNIT THE WHOLE COLLECTION UNDER ONE ROOF AND THAT ROOF BEING THE MMM. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND MEMBERS CONCERNS THAT WE MUST NOT LOSE CONTROL WHAT WE HAD WITH THE LRO. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE HAVE ASKED THE MMM, ON WHAT THEY WOULD OFFER US. WE ASKED FOR A RENEWABLE TEN-YEAR CONTRACT, LIKE A LONG-TERM LOAN, WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE MEMBERS OF THE OBA COMMITTEE HAVING FULL ACCESS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. ALL WITHIN THE STRICT DATA PROTECTION ACT CRITERIA'S. THE MMM HAVE AGREED TO THIS. THEY HAVE OFFERED IN WRITING, A TEN YEAR RENEWABLE LOAN, WITH FULL ACCESS TO IT, AND THEY WOULD OF COURSE BE PROVIDING THE COLLECTION WITH GOOD STORAGE AND ROUTINE CARE. IF THE COLLECTION WERE TRANSFERRED AS A GIFT TO THEM AT THE END OF THE TEN-YEAR LOAN, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMIT THEIR OWN FUNDS TOWARDS THE COLLECTION FOR ROUTINE CONSERVATION OR OTHER WORK, ETC AS IS THE CASE WITH ALL LOAN COLLECTIONS. THE WHOLE OF THE CONWAYS COLLECTION IS ON PERMANENT LOAN TO THE MMM, AS A GIFT AND JUST RECENTLY HAD £25’000 FROM THE JUBILEE FUND RAISED FOR IT A LONE! WHAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE, DO WE KEEP THE STATUS QUO WITH THE LRO, OR TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE COLLECTION THE BEST POSSIBLE HOME… WHAT’S IN IT FOR US AND FOR THE MATTER, ANY OLD BOYS FAMILY’ RESEARCHING THEIR OWN HISTORY. · BRING THE COLLECTION TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF. · NO SEARCH FEES (THE LRO WILL CHARGE YOU £10 EACH TIME!) MMM IS FREE OF CHARGE. · THE MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM IS THE NATURAL LOCATION FROM A NAUTICAL PERSPECTIVE, SITUATED AT THE ALBERT DOCK / LIVERPOOL. THE RECORDS ARE NOW READLY FOR OUR DECISION ON WHERE TO RESIDE, AS BOB EVANS HAS NOW FINISHED WITH THEM. BOTH STEVE AND I COULD HAVE THIS IN PLACE BY JULY. ALL THE ARCHIVES THAT ARE ON LOAN AT THE OLD SCHOOL (JSMTC) WILL REMAIN ON SITE, AS LONG AS THE MOD WISHES. FOREVER WE HOPE. SteveH		SB SP SH
9	OBA REUNION 2004 Tonight’s 21^st OBA REUNION starts at 19:00 dinner for 19:30. Fund Raising – The last in stock £45 Tankard, raffle tickets £5.00 each, Lucky Number ‘Dorm Cake’ and please don’t forget the Old Boys Shop today (*Open at all hours, throughout the year…). Sunday Church Service. See the OBA Stained Glass Window down in the Church. Be good & enjoy yourselves.		SB
10	DONM 4^th June 2005 at 10:00. Again the reunion will be at the Carreg Bran Hotel, Anglesey (Tel: 01248 714 224), bookings are already being taken by the hotel! Next years AGM/Reunion costs per head will be increased to £20.		SB
11	Norman Walker 63/65. “I would like to propose a vote of thanks on behalf of all the Members present, to the current Committee for all the hard work over the past year”. Thank you Norman. CLOSED: 16:27hrs		SB

SteveH 27/06/2004: indefatigable.obamembershipsec@btopenworld.com